NYT on the “Biggest Loser”
The name of the article says it all: “On the ‘Biggest Loser,’ Health Can Take Back Seat.”
Some contestants have claimed that dangerous weight loss techniques were common among contestants. Kai Hibbard, who lost 118 pounds and finished as the runner-up in Season 3, has written on her MySpace blog and elsewhere that she and other contestants would drink as little water as possible in the 24 hours before a weigh-in. When the cameras were off, she said, contestants would work out in as much clothing as possible.
Ms. Hibbard, who weighed 144 pounds at the show’s finale, wrote that she added 31 pounds in two weeks, most of it simply by drinking water. That experience is not isolated. Including Mr. Benson, the winners of the first four seasons of the show each have added at least 20 percent to their weight at the end of the show.
Why am I not surprised?
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Makster on 26 Nov 2009 at 11:09 am #
So typical of quick weight loss. Most times unhealthy and non-lasting. I have never watched that show, and probably never will.
Just don’t like the unhealthy methods. Also the fact that it makes people think weight loss should happen to quickly.
JLowe on 28 Nov 2009 at 11:12 pm #
Reality shows such as “Biggest Loser” give physical fitness a bad name. As much as I loathe the term “fat hatred”, shows such as “Biggest Loser” are evidence that such a thing exists. The only “reality” is the “”Biggest Loser” is a cruel freak show that victimizes its participants in the name of market share and advertising revenue. There’s no surprise here that the really creepy people in this drama (the network executives, the producers, and even the “star” who should know better) would be willing to risk the health of the participants for the sake of ratings.